Non-subscribers

Monterey rejects zoning change for billboard

The Monterey Board of Mayor and Aldermen has rejected a proposed change to the town's commercial zoning regulations to allow for the construction of billboards, as a special exception, in a C-1 zone.

The action comes after Greg Jackson, who owns several billboard locations, approached the town about locating a sign on city-owned property on Commercial Avenue across from Monterey High School. That property is the site of the police department.

"I personally feel like we've got more than enough billboards now in the city, and I certainly don't want to see any on city property anywhere in town, period," said Alderman Rebecca Iaquinta in discussing the matter during a meeting of the town's Building and Grounds Committee Monday.

"I concur," said Alderman Nathan Walker. "I don't think I've ever seen a police station with a billboard."

Walker said he would be concerned about inadvertently associating the billboard with the city police department.

He asked, "Who would determine who advertises on it and what they advertise?"

Mayor Bill Wiggins said the billboard company would make those decisions.

Wiggins said Jackson had proposed a 20-year lease that would pay the city $1,000 a year for use of the property.

According to city planner Kevin Rush, billboard usage is currently prohibited in the C-1 zone and special use permissions are not allowed under Tennessee law. Rush said the property could be rezoned or the town's zoning ordinance could be amended to allow billboards in a C-1 zone.

The Building and Grounds Committee recommended neither action.

"I don't have any problem with seeing them on private property," Iaquinta told Jackson. "I just think it's a slippery slope to start putting billboards on public property. It's not a good idea. I hope you can find something near there on private property."

The Monterey Board of Alderman adopted the committee's report on the matter.

The board also approved an agreement with the Nashville and Eastern Railroad covering Monterey's portion of the rail trail; approved a resolution to apply for a $475,000 Community Development Block Grant for a sewer rehab project; and appointed Mark Simpson to the Standing Stone Health Care board of trustees.